A
Capitol Sound and Unforgettable recordings from Hollywood's beloved
studio and landmark.

When you think
of Capitol studios in Los Angeles, nostalgic and timeless sounds
like Nat King Cole's Christmas
Song come to mind. Try "April
in Paris" From the Verve "Ella and Louis" LP
recorded in Capitol Studios on August 16, 1956 with Louis Armstrong,
Buddy Rich on drums and the Oscar Peterson Trio.
Frank Sinatra made 19 albums with Capitol 1954-62, with legendary
arrangers Axel Stordahl and Nelson Riddle.

Fast forward to 2002 and listen to some of the world's contemporary
chart-toppers like Diana Krall, Everclear, Faith Hill, Goo Goo Dolls
and Harry Connick Jr. all of whom record at the legendary Capitol
studios.

Capitol Studios
shares the 50-plus-year heritage of one of the most American of
pro audio success stories: Capitol
Records. Capitol Records was the first record company based
on the West Coast, and has promoted such acts as The Beatles, the
Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Bob Seger, Duran Duran, Bonnie
Raitt, Robbie Robertson, Steve Miller and Tina Turner, among many
others.

Capitol studio B

Today,
Capitol Studios and Capitol Mastering have evolved into the Studio
of the Future respecting the technology and creativity of the past
and cultivating an adventurous spirit into the future. Utilizing
digital and fiber optic technology along with quality vintage electronics
and State of the Art room design, Capitol Studios and Mastering
have broadened their scope as a leader in digital and global technology.
As part of the EMI family, Capitol Mastering shares a history of
advanced recording technology with great studios like Abbey
Road, Olympic, the Manor and the Townhouse in UK. Capitol mastering in LA

With collaborators
such as EDNet and Rocket
Networks producers can finally be in two places at once; reducing
travel expenses and without work disruption. These technological
advances are available to the music, film, TV and advertising industries
through Capitol Studios and Capitol Mastering.Capitol studio A

Film, TV and
advertising operate on a different pace with complex technical requirements.
Directors want it done yesterday and in today's economy, film companies
and producers diligently watch their budgets. Composers prefer the
atmosphere of record recording studios which generally do not have
film, TV and advertising expertise. Capitol Studios offers an intermediate
size recording facility from 4 to 75 pieces, with reasonable rates
compared to commercial sound stages, with film, TV and ad professionals.

Young
Old Blue Eyes with Tommy Dorsey circa 1960.

Engineer Schmitt worked in Studio A at Capitol during the Sinatra
Duets sessions, during which Chairman of The Board Sinatra belted
out his songs from the middle of a live orchestra, right in front
of the horn section. But while Sinatras parts were recorded
at Capitol, many of his duet partners laid down their tracks in
studios around the globe using the EDNet technology offered at Capitol.

Multi Grammy
engineer/producers Al
Schmitt and Elliot Schinerare regulars here. Al who won his
11th Grammy earlier this year for Diana Krall's "Look Of Love"
helped Robbie Williams croon like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin
on Williams album of Rat Pack-era swing standards titled Swing
When Youre Winning. The album, recorded at Capitol Studio
A on a Neve VR60 went to #1charts in UK, did double platinum in
Austria and Germany and 10x platinum in Ireland. "On Krall's
record I did a couple of fixes in Capitol Studio A, and then I mixed
it at Capitol Studio C on a Neve," says Schmitt.

The Capitol
Studio complex opened in a futuristic new building in the heart
of Hollywood in 1956, and has since hosted some of the most treasured
recordings in music history, from Frank Sinatra to the Beastie Boys.

When Johnny
Mercer, Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs (pictured
below) started Capitol Records in 1942 they had a vision to create
a record label that would attract the greatest artists of their
time. The way to attract great artists was to give them a unique
sound and to achieve this they saw a need to build a state-of-the-art
recording facility exclusively for music recording.

A Hollywood
landmark, widely known as the 'Capitol Tower', the building was
designed by Welton Becket, noted architect. 13 stories tall
and 150' high, the building is a modern, striking, earthquake-resistant
reinforced-concrete structure. The ground floor, the only rectangular
part of the building, is actually a separate structure which surrounds
the tower and was joined to it after the entire tower was completed.
It houses the Recording Department offices, two mastering rooms,
three recording studios which were designed by Vincent Van Huff,
Jeff Cooper, and Jack Edwards, plus six production/edit rooms.

scoring stage

At the base
of the building's southern face (overlooking a parking lot) is a
large, colorful mural by artist Richard Wyatt, titled "Hollywood
Jazz." The mural features large portraits of Nat King Cole,
Billie Holiday, and other jazz greats.

John Lennon's
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is right outside the Capitol
Records building, and is often the site of candlelight vigils on
the anniversary of his death (December 8).

After dark,
you might notice that the spire high atop the Capitol Records building
is topped by a red light which continually blinks on and off. The
red light blinks out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code,
every few seconds.

When you are
ready to work in a relaxed, professional atmosphere with a "let's
get the job done" attitude, please make an appointment with
Paula Salvatore to tour the great Capitol Studios and Capitol Mastering.